Attitudes toward school of 3,000 urban middle school students were studied over several years as part of a larger evaluation of a middle grades reform initiative. Results suggested that the "mismatch" hypothesized by other researchers between developmental needs of young adolescents and middle school structure and practices may be greater for…

Explored the influences of teacher education on musical curriculum related to young children's responses to music. The findings showed that during a music activity, children attended to their teachers, that children's responses to music differed according to their age, and that teaching a music curriculum to early childhood caregivers does make a…

Analyzes survey data on attitudes of university agriculture faculty, farmers, and advocacy groups regarding traditional versus alternative agriculture. Data examined for differences in age, sex, education, department, and farm background. Suggests faculty beliefs generally more traditional than farmers but less than conventional-agriculture…

Sixty-two college students with learning disabilities were compared to 58 peers matched on gender and American College Testing composite score. Groups were compared on age, high school preparation and performance, college grades, grade point average at the end of each year of study, graduation and academic failure rate, and time taken to complete…

How 330 young, 481 middle, and 299 late adolescents (535 males and 575 females) perceive the relative importance of relationships with their mother, father, most important sibling, best same-sex friend, and most important teacher was investigated. Results from the Network of Relationship Inventory were analyzed. (SLD)

Studies sex differences in play behavior across early elementary school years and the relationship between sex-typed play and peer acceptance for 86 second graders and 81 fourth graders (72 males and 95 females). Results indicate significant age and gender differences, with boys more often boisterous and aggressive than girls. (SLD)

Reviews studies of the effects of prenatal drug exposure on child development, and reviews ideal early intervention programs. Researchers agree that prenatal drug exposure is only one of many factors that can influence a child's development. Specialized treatment programs and family support can ameliorate prenatal drug exposure effects. (SLD)

Whether indexes of cognitive processes that affect adults are related to sentence reading times and recall was studied for 49 fifth grade and 73 seventh grade good and poor readers. Younger children differed from older children in that greater numbers of causal relations were associated with better sentence recall. (SLD)

A survey of 55 Chinese students and scholars visiting the United States investigated attitudes toward the spread of Putonghua, the standard variety of Chinese. Results indicate six categories of attitude, five supporting its spread. They also show a correlation of attitude with age, birthplace, current residence, and parents' occupation.…

Two studies with 170 children aged 4-12 years examined the possibility that unsolicited help can serve as a low-ability cue. Targets of unsolicited help are perceived by children as less able students who are less likely to do well and less likely to be desirable workmates. (SLD)

Results from 197 elementary school students (97 males and 100 females) aged 6, 7, and 8 years from New Zealand suggest that only poor and younger average readers clearly read better in context than in lists. Good readers, even when younger, seem to be less reliant on context clues. (SLD)

Studied developmental differences in the search constraint heuristics used in scientific reasoning using 12 undergraduates, 20 community college students, 17 fifth to seventh graders (grade 6), and 15 third graders taught to use a programmable robot. Adults use domain-general skills that go beyond the logic of confirmation and disconfirmation.…

Asked adults and children ages 7 to 15 to detect changes in an unaccompanied drumbeat. Found significant differences in performance as a function of age when drumbeats fluctuated. Found musical training more influential than age when drumbeat was constant. Discusses a multiprocess model for the perception of tempo. (NL)

This study with 82 gifted males (grades 1-12) used a questionnaire which focused on self-confidence, perfectionism, relationships with parents, relationships with peers, hopelessness, and discouragement. Findings indicated a significantly higher level of discouragement and hopeless feeling for junior high school boys as compared with senior high…

A study involving 70 grade school children shows that mothers are fairly accurate in estimating their children's abilities (IQ). Accuracy of estimation does not predict achievement or school grades, but mothers' demands of children are related to beliefs about ability and the children's levels of achievement. (SLD)